Letter to the Editor

Missouri’s DNR is requesting to hear from YOU. Pomme de Terre River and Lake are in danger of joining too many of our state’s and country’s waters in that they are being contaminated by Corporate America, big businesses, and insufficient oversight of their operational practices. A slaughter house owned by STX of Texas, Mo Prime Beef Packers in Pleasant Hope, Mo. has requested permit to discharge 350,000 gallons of sludge waste water straight into Pomme de Terre every day. It appeared that DNR was going to approve this permit until the nearby neighbors gained enough awareness from concerned citizens that DNR could not ignore their claims. Personal wells have been tested positive for contaminants relative to slaughter water run off and obvious adverse effects are evident in the waters of nearby creeks and Pomme de Terre River herself, from their abuse of their permit to dump, currently, 140,000 gallons of sludge waste waters onto neighboring feilds under guise of it being safe fertilizer. DNR will be holding public hearings to give folks opportunity to speak via phone or WebEx. (Download the WebEx App ahead of time). You can also get your comments to DNR by mail at Missouri Dept of Natural Resources Attn: MO-0113204 Missouri Prime Beef Public Notice Comments P.O. Box 176 Jefferson City, Mo 65102-0176 or e-mail to: publicnoticenpdes@dnr.Mo.gov or fax to: (573) 751-1146. All comments must have “Attn: MO-0113204 Missouri Prime Beef Packers public notice comments” at the top of note. DNR is hosting 3 public hearings where no questions will be answered and they request comments be kept to under 3 minutes. One hearing will be an in-person hearing held at the Pleasant Hope Mo Middle School at 515 W. McCurry st Pleasant Hope Mo on Jan 6th 2024 from 12:30pm to 4:30pm. The other 2 hearings are to be attended via phone, (650) 479-3207 (for both hearings). For the hearing on Dec.12th 2023 from 5:30pm to 8:00pm the WebEx meeting number (access code ) is: 2734 035 9937 and the password is: VDp3B5sB83m. For the hearing on Dec. 19th 2023 at 4:00pm to 6:00pm the WebEx meeting number is: 2631 035 9937 and the password is:DNR. For further information on the history of this issue visit www.protectpommedeterre.com and browse the posts in both Facebook groups, Protect Pomme de Terre and Pomme de Terre Water Watch Dogs. Whether you conclude to think this permit should be approved or denied, please exercise your freedom of having a voice on matters worth speaking up for.